Mardi Gras also called Shrove Tuesday,[1] or Fat Tuesday in English, refers to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”, reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. this is celebrated by having a huge parade throughout the city’s streets with people throwing it is celebrated because its the last day before lent starts. this holiday is usually celebrated in Louisiana and since i do not do lent and do not live in Louisiana i do not celebrate I think this hoilday should become a national holiday because there are more people in america that a christian and take part in lent and lent starts the day after mardi gras which is ash wednesday Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or the dictum “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”[2] The ashes may be prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations. Among Roman Catholics, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting and repentance. In Anglican churches, the Book of Common Prayer also designates Ash Wednesday as a day of abstinence from particular foods. 